Hi there,
I'm creating a non profit ethical fellowship in Orlando, Florida within the next year and would love some feedback. The fellowship is free and is meant to bring community together. It will be a non-theistic and non-political based organization based on humanistic ethics and morals. My purpose for this fellowship is to bring people together from different backgrounds, ages, beliefs, etc. into a tight knit community that cares about one another and only judges someone based on their character and actions. So we bring community and love to our society and give back as well. Since power and greed are not something that this group values we do the opposite. We give to those in need, we help clean our cities and neighborhoods, we host fun events and donate the proceeds to well researched charities.
There are similar unions/groups around the United States but the Florida branch is in Tampa and is quite a drive for me. I wanted to see if others in the Orlando area would be interested in being part of an organization with these types of principles as it's foundation. I am finishing up on the brochure and will be able to distribute it in the following week. Any type feedback, critiques, ideas, questions please feel free to ask. I want to be as transparent as possible with this and make it something beautiful.
Peace and Love - Ethan
4
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Have a look at Oasis [networkoasis.org] for some further ideas and maybe more.
Iām very curious to lean about how you progress in this endeavor.
Swade
Level 4
May 9, 2019
1
This would make for a good Indiegogo or GoFundMe campaign . You might not only secure some start-up financing but it could gauge some measure of interest as well.
Sgt_Spanky
Level 8
May 8, 2019
2
@Sgt_Spanky Excellent Idea! Thank you for your reply!
1.This feels like a church, but without religion. Not a criticism, just trying to understand.
2. Communities coalesce around a central core of interest. There must be some activity where mutual help or support is needed. Kids' sports, municipal politics, choirs, trades unions are a few examples. What would be the core of your community?
amymcmxcii
Level 6
May 8, 2019
0
@amymcmxcii funny thing is I totally thought this idea was like a church or cult hahaha. Its just a non-profit organization that has a similar structure to a religion but doesn't have religion at its core. The core is based on humanist morals and ethics, primarily the golden rule. I chose the golden rule because it's found in most religions and in my opinion is the closest way to empathy and peace.
@EthanRogers Based on @amymcmxcii's suggestion, could you invite people to join your group and ask for suggestions of "projects" that you could take on? Do a Habitat for Humanity house, for example, or do "secret Santa" for a needy family, etc. People may be more interested in doing something that will make them feel good than in simply "being ethical." They can be ethical at home, in their PJs, but projects require presence and action. And they give you warm & fuzzy feelings when you accomplish something.
@citronella Hi, Yes you can invite anyone to join. Any member can come up with projects and funding to implement those projects. The individual or individuals would then present a proposal to the community and then would hold a vote by the members to approve or deny the project and project funding. By using good ethics and morals in our community we then radiate that to better society and give to those in need, we help clean our cities and neighborhoods, we host fun events and donate the proceeds to well researched charities. I couldn't agree with you more about "action" and being involved in our family, social circles, neighborhood, city, county, state, country and the world. Hope this clarified a little more about my vision. I will have the brochure ready very soon with my bio and vision for this fellowship. Thank you for your reply 
Okay, another quick suggestion.
Buy the full match.com membership. Message all the atheist and non-secular women. Your not going there to date. Go there to recruit. Invite them to your gathering. As you converse with them, find one who will market to the males.
It is a cheap and effective way to advertise.
Your selling a congregation. Maybe make your first meetup a picnic. It is less costly. The mood is light. You don't need a band or all of the bells and whistles. You just need to sell a vision and a plan.
Heathenman
Level 7
May 8, 2019
0
@Heathenman great ideas. The match one is very clever and I'll have to ponder on that one. The picnic is a perfect ice breaker as well and should be relatively inexpensive. I'm going to be a part of the local chambers of congress too and recruit the local businesses to join and allow them to cater or host our events, give fellowship members discounts to their products/services, donate to the organization for marketing on all communications that go out to the public etc.
IF he does that he may be reported for spamming members and have his account removed. And just have multiple sock puppet accounts. XD
@demifeministgal Didn't think about that, you might be right.
I am debated messaging you because this may be long. But, I think supporting you is important. Millennials are really absent in any type of non-secular movement or cause.
These are some suggestions based on attending numerous non-secular groups in the NW, SW and South. It is my personal criticism, but it may be of use to you.
The majority of the groups seem to have a desire to make the meetings educationally themed. There seems to be an advantage to offering these types of lectures, but when they are commonly a part of the regularly scheduled meeting it is apparent drag for many of the members.
I am a numbers guy. I will go to meetings, 20 percent new people in the regular. Growth rate slow to level.
The best meetings are the ones with a positive, we're in this together, go you message.
There also seems to be a lack of economic support for members who have companies. I am sure they can pay for ads on non-secular websites, but why would they. There is an opportunity cost with not providing this service for free. The money gained from doing this is greater than the miniscule amount of revenue which would be gained from selling revenue.
A message at the end of each meeting reminding the congregation of some of the goods or services offer by other members will gain loyalty and grow numbers.
Make it a positive thing. List of some of the positive things going on in the community and the world.
Have a set up for kids. Your a millennial. The people around you may be young. They will have crying babies. I don't mind babies crying, playing or acting up, but some people do. The kids parents may mind as well. They may be embarrassed by the natural occurrence.
Music seems to do well for every Sunday Assembly I have been to. I never drop less than a 20 in their till.
Good luck to you. Hope you make a loving community. I hope more that you make a national movement. If the millennials in Britan can stop coal for one day, I wonder what you can get the millennials here to do?
Maybe, you will be the man who takes religion out of politics. Are you that man?
Heathenman
Level 7
May 8, 2019
0
@Heathenman Thank you for your fruitful advice! Much of what you described is very similar to my original idea for this organization (like minded people I suppose ). Also, I really appreciate getting advice from people who have experienced similar groups/organizations and can shed some light on this topic from their personal perspective. A reoccurring theme you brought up was the word positive, this to me is such a healthy outlook to have when it comes to community/society. Lastly, your mention of incentives was one of the harder concepts for me to plan for but I do have a very nice set of incentives for business owners and the community. Thank you once again for the wonderful advice and kind support @Heathenman and Yes, I really do want to be that man!
I'll be sure to send you a copy of the brochure as soon as its complete.
A good place to advertise your group is meetup.com
LisaL81
Level 7
May 8, 2019
3
Thank you for your suggestion! I will certainly put the group on that platform
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